Played golf with D Shelton yesterday...great guy. He thinks the offense will be more of the same. No pitcher trades. We'll put together an assortment of role players to accent Longo, and just hope they hit better than the role guys did this year. Everything obviously rides on Longos health.
Interesting note about Longo....Shelton met him in Arizona in the offseason prior to 2011...and both instantly realized that his swing was gone. Took months to get it back, tweak by tweak. Same meeting in 2012 and Longo was locked in from the beginning. Hope the '13 get together starts like that.

Reporter: "What'd you major in at Alabama, Joe...Basketweaving?"
Namath: "No, man...Journalism. It was easier."

"We kind of tried to find a middle ground to where we would able to do some things to be able to afford some players to put ourselves in a position to win every year," Longoria said. "And I told them from the beginning that I didn't want to be the one sucking up all the payroll so we can't afford anybody else."

Edited by gump, 26 November 2012 - 05:10 PM.

Reporter: "What'd you major in at Alabama, Joe...Basketweaving?"
Namath: "No, man...Journalism. It was easier."

"We kind of tried to find a middle ground to where we would able to do some things to be able to afford some players to put ourselves in a position to win every year," Longoria said. "And I told them from the beginning that I didn't want to be the one sucking up all the payroll so we can't afford anybody else."

"We kind of tried to find a middle ground to where we would able to do some things to be able to afford some players to put ourselves in a position to win every year," Longoria said. "And I told them from the beginning that I didn't want to be the one sucking up all the payroll so we can't afford anybody else."

BJ to the Braves.
It's going to be interesting to see the exact opposite reaction to Crawford leaving. Everyone loved Carl when he was here, but because he chose to go to Boston, he became instantly hated.
BJ had a lot if haters here, but I think most will wish him the best and continue to root for him to do well.

I like the signing. It's virtually no risk. Loney should be able to hit righties and field his position well enough to earn it back. The Rays should be able to find somebody to fill the short half of the platoon.

I like the signing. It's virtually no risk. Loney should be able to hit righties and field his position well enough to earn it back. The Rays should be able to find somebody to fill the short half of the platoon.

I like the signing. It's virtually no risk. Loney should be able to hit righties and field his position well enough to earn it back. The Rays should be able to find somebody to fill the short half of the platoon.

Pat Burrell available?

We'll pass on Fat.

Reporter: "What'd you major in at Alabama, Joe...Basketweaving?"
Namath: "No, man...Journalism. It was easier."

Don't understand the Longoria extension. Alot of money for a small market team to spend on a 3B who always gets dinged.

Not sure it matters a lot, but nothing could have made this fan base more excited.
He does get dinged but there is no doubting his ability. I loved it.

Don't disagree at all on his ability. High character guy, great defender, and solid offensive player when healthy. But I just don't see the reason to re-sign him for such a long time. Injuries don't improve with age, and he plays a demanding position.

Don't understand the Longoria extension. Alot of money for a small market team to spend on a 3B who always gets dinged.

Not sure it matters a lot, but nothing could have made this fan base more excited.
He does get dinged but there is no doubting his ability. I loved it.

Don't disagree at all on his ability. High character guy, great defender, and solid offensive player when healthy. But I just don't see the reason to re-sign him for such a long time. Injuries don't improve with age, and he plays a demanding position.

I can dig that. I think it was just the team showing a committment to a guy who they feel is ridiculously underpaid. And with the way the tv money is heading, his 2020 contract probably won't be all that awful, even if he doesn't stay all that healthy.
I have to imagine worst-case scenario is he has to eventually move off of third. His bat would play just fine at first or DH.

Finally a few bats to go with the arms.
No more Pena.
Things are looking good.

James Loney

I find your belief system.........fascinating.

but there are people in life, people you know in your own personal life Joe that just always seem to have a cloud over them. I try to distance myself form those folks as much as possible and I bet you do to.

Exactly. Here in the DFW area we are pretty fond of our Ranger front office, but even the local sports radio guys said several times this week that if any other GM looks at his caller ID and sees Tampa Bay the only correct move is to pick up the phone and say "No".

Sub .200 average with 158 and 182 strikeouts respectively in his last two seasons as a Ray. I probably dislike him more than he deserves, but I've never seen a player make more unproductive outs on a consistent basis than Carlos Pena.

Sub .200 average with 158 and 182 strikeouts respectively in his last two seasons as a Ray. I probably dislike him more than he deserves, but I've never seen a player make more unproductive outs on a consistent basis than Carlos Pena.

.342 OBP against RHP last year, with a sissified slugging.
.388 and .504 in 2011. I dunno, probably not worth the trouble but if they get priced out elsewhere he can be had for 1 yr/2M.

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Don't understand the Longoria extension. Alot of money for a small market team to spend on a 3B who always gets dinged.

Not sure it matters a lot, but nothing could have made this fan base more excited.
He does get dinged but there is no doubting his ability. I loved it.

Don't disagree at all on his ability. High character guy, great defender, and solid offensive player when healthy. But I just don't see the reason to re-sign him for such a long time. Injuries don't improve with age, and he plays a demanding position.

How many position players with MVP level talent have the Rays had in their history, and how many will the Rays have in the next 5 years? I'd say two...CC and Longo....one is a lot more expensive.

Reporter: "What'd you major in at Alabama, Joe...Basketweaving?"
Namath: "No, man...Journalism. It was easier."

Michael Morse a fit? Sounds like the Nats want to trade with TB now that Laroche is signed.

Hope so. Would be a good fit. Wonder what they are looking for?

I like Morse and he definitely is the kind of bat they need. However, trading a player and paying him $7M for just this season doesn't seem like the Rays' style. His defense also leads a bit to be desired, and Morse has hinted at not being too interested in being a DH.